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§ THE GLASS FACTORY. §
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,,.~=§¤&@# SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER IT HAD LAST #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## BELONGED TO US, WE WENT ON AN OUTING TO ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE OUR FAMILY #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ NAME. IT HAD CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& SINCE OUR ANCESTORS DEATH, AND THEN &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ STOOD ABANDONED FOR A LONG WHILE. @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# FINALLY, THE NATURAL END STATION FOR #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## THE BUILDINGS THAT SURVIVE: A MUSEUM, ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# AND A GIFT SHOP. #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& THERE'S A LONG TIME SINCE MY FAMILY &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ MADE ANYTHING. BY MANY, WE WOULD BE @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# CONSIDERED POOR. #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# THERE ARE TWO MAIN FACTORY BUILDINGS, #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE IN @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& YELLOW BRICK. LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ REMINESCENT OF SOME CATHEDRAL. @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# CUSTOM-MADE GLASS, OF COURSE, LARGE AND #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## LEADED, AND ASHEN. A BIT TOO DARK TO BE ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# PRACTICAL. ON THE EASTERN BUILDING, #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ SOME ARE SHATTERED. @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ THE OTHER ONE IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# A MUSEUM, WITH WAX FIGURES OF MY GREAT #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, OR SOMETHING. ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# VARIOUS TOOLS (OR REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ TABLES, WITH EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& GLASS OF VARYING THICKNESS. &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# §§ #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## §§ §§ ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# ~~~~~~~ § § ~~~~~~~ #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ §§ §§ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& §§ &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# I QUICKLY SNEAK OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## OTHER BUILDING. THE CONTRAST IS ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# OVERWHELMING. IT MUST HAVE STOOD #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ DERELICT FOR A LONG TIME, WINDOWS @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& BROKEN, METALLIC TRASH AND POOLS OF &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ DARK GLASS ALL OVER THE FLOOR. NO @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT I CAN SEE BY THE #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER THE DARK ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# WINDOWS ARE MISSING A PANE. #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IS THE &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ HIGHER FLOORS: THIS BUILDING HAS NONE. @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# IT IS ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP THERE ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# IS SOME GREAT IRON LATTICEWORK, FROM #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ WHERE CHAINS ARE SUSPENDED, AND PARTS @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& OF MACHINERY HAS BEEN FALLING DOWN. &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# THERE IS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GREAT #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## HALL, A THIN SPIRAL STAIRCASE THAT ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK OVER THERE, AND #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ TAKE A FEW RELUCTANT STEPS. AFTER JUST @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& A REVOLUTION, I NOTICE THAT FOR EACH &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ STEP THE BUILDING STARTS TO GLOW, THE @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# BRICKS TURNING A DARK RED, AND THEN #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## ORANGE, ALL THE PILED UP DEBREE BEING ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# LIT FROM BEHIND. #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& I STOP READY TO RUN DOWN AND OUT, BUT &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE STAIRCASE @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# WITH ME NOW, PRESSED CLOSE. HE'S #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## LOOKING LIKE ME, SHORT HAIR AND THIN ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# ARMS, BUT WITH EARS FROM SOME ANIMAL, #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ AND MORE DISTURBINGLY, COMPLETELY MADE @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& OF DARK LIQUID GLASS. &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# §§ #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## §§ §§ ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# ~~~~~~~ § § ~~~~~~~ #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ §§ §§ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& §§ &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# MY FEAR HOLDS ME IN PLACE WHILE HE #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## STARTS OPERATING LEVERS AND DIALS SET ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE. SLOWLY, #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ IT STARTS SPINNING, CIRCLING UPWARDS. @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& IT'S AN ELEVATOR! I START TO RUN &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ DOWNWARDS, BUT NOW THE LIQUID BOY @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# CREATURE GRABS HOLD OF ME. I TRY TO #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG, AND ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# PULLS ME BACK UP BESIDE HIM. #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& THIS TIME, I TURN ANGRY INSTEAD. WHAT &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ THE HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING LIKE @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# THIS? I REACH OUT MY FREE ARM AND SLAM #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## A RANDOM LEVER. SOME METAL BAR IS ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# SUDDENLY RELEASED BETWEEN US, HITTING #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING MY RELEASE. I @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& SHOVE HIM OFF OF ME, AND HE FALLS INTO &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ THE LEVERS, MESSING THEM UP. @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# IMMEDIATELY, A THIN RUSTY CHAINMAIL #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## CURTAIN IS DROPPED AROUND ME. BUT THE ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# ELEVATOR ALSO SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& THE WALLS ARE FLARING NOW, YELLOW, &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ WHITE, ALMOST BLUE. I CLOSE MY EYES AND @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# CURL INTO A BALL. BUT THEN, THE GLASS #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## BOY SCREAMS, A PIERCING SOUND THAT ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN. I WATCH AS HE #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ BECOMES TOO LIQUID, HIS BODY POOLING @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& DOWN IN HIS NOW MASSIVE TAIL, AND THE &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ TIP OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# DROP THAT FALLS TOWARD THE FACTORY #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## FLOOR. ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS, UNABLE TO @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& KEEP HIS BODY UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ LEVERS, CLAWS AT MY CHAINMAIL CAGE, @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# WHILE HIS BODY IS TURNING INTO DARK #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## PEARLS. FINALLY, HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# HIMSELF AND THE SCREAM IS CUT SHORT. #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ THE LAST OF HIM RAINS DOWN. @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ I STILL CAN'T REACH THE LEVERS FROM @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# WITHIN MY CAGE. LOOKING UP, I TRY TO #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## MAKE OUT THE CEILING, BUT IT'S ALL A ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# WHIRLING SEA OF COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ THE HELLFIRE OF THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& VERY FAINT. I SIT DOWN, CURL BACK UP, &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ BECOME STILL. @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## §§ ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# §§ §§ #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ ~~~~~~~ § § ~~~~~~~ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& §§ §§ &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ §§ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## A LARGE CLUNK SHAKES MY ENTIRE BODY, ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# AND SNAPS ME BACK INTO REALITY. I'M #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ BACK AT THE FACTORY FLOOR, BUT THE @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& STAIRS ARE STILL MOVING SLIGHTLY, &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ CLICKING IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# FEW CENTIMETERS. I CAME FROM BELOW, #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## SOMEHOW. THE CHAINMAIL IS RETRACTED, ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# AND I SLOWLY DISMOUNT THE STAIRS. #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& SHAKING AND CRYING, I MAKE MY WAY OVER &¤§=~.,,,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ THE FACTORY FLOOR, WADING THROUGH DARK @&¤§=~.,,,
,,.~=§¤&@# GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN, AND #@&¤§=~.,,
,.~=§¤&@## I SEE THERE'S SOMETHING FAINT INSIDE ##@&¤§=~.,
,,.~=§¤&@# THEM. EMBRYOS? ARE THESE EGGS? #@&¤§=~.,,
,,,.~=§¤&@ @&¤§=~.,,,
,,,,.~=§¤& I SHUDDER, AND CLIMB BACK OUT. &¤§=~.,,,,
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